January 1
The Office of the President of the National Unity Government (NUG) announced that 110 prisoners and detainees were granted unconditional amnesty to mark the New Year 2026.
Source: DVB
The Chairman of the Chin State Council urged people to reject and collectively oppose the “fake” election results in his New Year’s message.
Source: Mizzima
Following late-December talks between the military and the MNDAA in Lashio, troops reportedly withdrew from Hsipaw Bridge and the Lashio gate on the Hsipaw side.
Source: Myanmar Now
Myanmar citizens in Japan held a peace rally in Osaka calling for peace in Myanmar.
Source: Mizzima
January 2
Muslim businesspeople said they were now allowed to participate in business license auctions held by the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government (APRG), after previously being excluded under earlier administrations.
Source: DVB
January 3
The Tagaung Nickel Plant in Tigyaing Township, Sagaing Region, has been out of operation for over a year, with both the military council and the Chinese company reportedly suffering losses of hundreds of millions of dollars. The area has been under the control of local resistance forces since July 2024.
Source: DVB
January 5
Phase one of elections in Chin and Rakhine states concluded, with the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) reportedly winning the majority of seats.
Source: Myanmar Now
A Chinese delegation met with the military council’s Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss expanding bilateral trade, including reopening border gates and granting duty-free access for Myanmar goods.
Source: DVB
In his New Year message, the Chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) said he would continue working to unite revolutionary groups with shared goals.
Source: DVB
Airstrikes hit seven townships in Sagaing Region in a single day, killing six people—including an 11-year-old child—and injuring at least 15 others, according to local sources.
Source: Myanmar Now
An armed group identifying itself as the Kawthulay Army (KTLA) declared the formation of a new state along the Myanmar–Thailand border on Karen National Independence Day.
Source: DVB
January 6
A vehicle carrying members of the military council’s Magway Region Election Commission was attacked, killing three people—including a police chief—and injuring three others.
Source: DVB
Fighting intensified in Sittwe Township, Rakhine State, after the Arakan Army (AA) launched a ground offensive on military council bases.
Source: DVB
January 7
Philippine Foreign Minister Maria Theresa “Tess” Parreño Lazaro, serving as the 2026 ASEAN Chair’s Special Representative for Myanmar, visited Myanmar and met with Min Aung Hlaing.
Source: DVB
Chin political groups said elections were held in only two of nine townships in Chin State, with turnout estimated at 17 percent, calling the process unsuccessful.
Source: DVB
The Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG) warned that Karenni State is facing famine conditions as the military continues targeting civilian livelihoods and farmland.
Source: DVB
January 8
UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews said the military council’s election was not free, fair, or legitimate.
Source: DVB
Despite reports of voting machine problems, early voting issues, and voter fraud in the first phase of the election, the military’s election commission was criticized for failing to address them and instead saying improvements would be made in later phases.
Source: DVB
The Thingangyun Township Court in Yangon sentenced People’s Party candidate U Lwin Myint to one year in prison with hard labor for using political slogans referencing the “2021 Spring Revolution and Mass Uprising” during campaigning.
Source: Myanmar Now
The Karen National Union (KNU) said it has no connection to the Kawthu Lay Army (KTLA), which declared the formation of a Kawthu Lay government and independence along the Thai–Myanmar border.
Source: DVB
January 9
Justice For Myanmar said Facebook removed more than 1,000 pages, groups, and accounts linked to the military-owned telecom company Mytel.
Source: DVB
Myanmar’s military council and Somalia signed a joint statement in Kuala Lumpur to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.
Source: DVB
The military council reduced the requirement to convert export earnings into local currency at below-market rates from 25 percent to 15 percent starting this month.
Source: Myanmar Now
The National Unity Government (NUG) said it holds sole authority over Myanmar’s representation in the genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), rejecting the military council’s submissions.
Source: DVB
The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) urged the United States to take more effective and practical action on Myanmar.
Source: DVB
January 10
The NUG’s Interim Board for Heritage Administration designated the Myitsone region in Kachin State as a natural and cultural heritage site amid efforts by China and the military to restart the hydropower project there.
Source: DVB
U Tin Aung San, Minister of the Presidential Office under the military council, said the Myitsone project should not be opposed and claimed it would benefit Kachin State’s development.
Source: DVB
January 11
The second phase of the election was held in 100 townships across 12 regions and states, including Kachin, Kayah (Karenni), Mon, Shan, Karen, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Yangon, and Ayeyarwady.
Source: Myanmar Now
Military spokesperson General Zaw Min Tun said parliament would convene in March and a new government would take office in April.
Source: DVB
January 12
The Mon State Election Commission said the Mon Unity Party (MUP) won 17 seats in various parliaments in Mon State during the second phase of the election.
Source: DVB
January 13
Min Aung Hlaing claimed the regime repaired Cyclone Mocha damage in Rakhine State within six months, and blamed the destruction on attacks by the Arakan Army (AA).
Source: DVB
Bangladesh summoned the Myanmar military council’s ambassador to protest cross-border gunfire incidents.
Source: DVB
The military council’s Labor Department announced that citizens seeking to work abroad must obtain official permission before departure starting January 14.
Source: DVB
January 14
The military-backed Union Election Commission said it would take action against People’s Pioneer Party (PPP) chairwoman Daw Thet Thet Khaing and party members for meeting foreign embassies and organizations without permission.
Source: DVB
In a message marking Kayah State Day, Min Aung Hlaing said ethnic armed groups were obstructing regional stability and development.
Source: DVB
More than 80 regime soldiers captured by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) during fighting in Lashio were reportedly released, according to local residents.
Source: Myanmar Now
The NUG Foreign Ministry urged Myanmar nationals in Thailand not to participate in Thai political or administrative affairs and to avoid illegal activities.
Source: DVB
January 15
The participation of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) in the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) was temporarily suspended.
Source: DVB
U Tin Hla Shwe, a member of the Township Election Commission in Chaung U Township, Sagaing Region, was reportedly arrested by local revolutionary forces four days after the second phase of the election.
Source: Myanmar Now
January 16
The military council rejected allegations of genocide against Rohingya Muslims as it defended itself in the case brought by Gambia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
Source: DVB
The military council’s Foreign Ministry protested to Timor-Leste over a January 14 meeting at the Timorese Presidential Palace involving the Chin Human Rights Organization, claiming it engaged with groups opposing the junta.
Source: DVB
Foreign investment in Myanmar continued to decline under military rule, with only US$333 million recorded in the first eight months of the 2025–26 fiscal year—about half of the amount during the same period the previous year.
Source: DVB
January 17
In the second phase of the election, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) reportedly won 111 of 141 seats (about 80 percent) in the two national parliaments, according to the election commission.
Source: RFA
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it supports “inclusive and fair” elections in Myanmar involving all stakeholders.
Source: DVB
January 19
The Philippines’ Foreign Minister, representing the new ASEAN chair, reportedly discussed Myanmar issues with ethnic armed resistance groups and representatives of the National Unity Government (NUG) in Tagaytay.
Source: Myanmar Now
January 20
Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said ASEAN would not send observers to Myanmar’s three-phase election and would not endorse the results.
Source: RFA
The military election commission announced that the third phase of voting would not be held in Mansi and Momauk townships in Kachin State, areas under the control of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
Source: RFA
Min Aung Hlaing said parliament would convene in March and that state responsibilities would be handed over to the winning government according to procedures.
Source: RFA
A People’s Defense Forces (PDF) camp in eastern Kawlin Township, Sagaing Region, was bombed by the military using aircraft and suicide drones, killing eight PDF members and seriously injuring one.
Source: Myanmar Now
January 21
An airstrike on a People’s Defense Forces (PDF) office in Mawlu Township, Sagaing Region—an area under NUG control—killed four PDF members and one Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldier.
Source: Myanmar Now
The military commission said 404 people accused of opposing or attempting to disrupt the election were charged under the Election Protection Act, which carries long prison terms.
Source: RFA
Vendors in parts of Yangon included in the third phase of voting were reportedly threatened with losing permission to sell goods if they did not vote.
Source: Mizzima
January 22
A military airstrike on a village west of Bhamo, Kachin State, where fighting has continued for months, reportedly killed 22 civilians and injured 28 others.
Source: Myanmar Now
People’s Pioneer Party (PPP) chairwoman Daw Thet Thet Khaing was reportedly placed under house arrest for one day after being summoned for questioning by the military authorities.
Source: Mizzima
To boost Russian tourism, the military council granted visa-free travel to Russian citizens and established direct flights, though only a few thousand Russian tourists visit Myanmar annually—about one percent of total foreign arrivals.
Source: Myanmar Now
January 23
The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the U.S. government’s move to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar nationals in the United States.
Source: Mizzima
A new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said China, Myanmar, and Israel were among the countries with the highest numbers of imprisoned journalists at the end of 2025.
Source: Mizzima
January 25
The third phase of the election was held in 63 townships, and People’s Party (PP) Chairman Ko Ko Gyi was defeated.
Source: RFA Burmese
The Kokang National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) announced the release of 500 soldiers and several detainees captured during the seizure of Lashio in northern Shan State as part of “Operation 1027.”
Source: Myanmar Now
January 26
Dr. Myint Htwe, former minister for the Ministry of Health and Sports under the NLD government, passed away at a hospital in Thailand. A veteran doctor and a former senior officer at WHO took the role of health minister in 2016, leading reforms in the country’s healthcare sector.
Source: Mizzima
January 27
The government of China said it supports the military’s election as a path toward peace, reconciliation, political stabilization, and national stability.
Source: DVB
The military council’s Foreign Ministry announced that Pakistan and Myanmar signed a cooperation agreement covering economic and technological sectors.
Source: DVB
The military council reportedly prevented Myanmar migrant domestic workers abroad from returning home while on leave.
Source: DVB
January 28
As ASEAN continued urging an end to violence in Myanmar, Thailand told ASEAN foreign ministers that the bloc should engage with Myanmar’s post-election government, according to the Bangkok Post.
Source: DVB
January 29
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced that hearings in The Gambia’s genocide case against Myanmar have concluded and that judges will now deliberate before issuing a ruling.
Source: DVB
The Karenni Interim Executive Council apologized after more than 80 detainees—mostly prisoners of war—escaped from a prison in Mae Sae Township, Karenni State.
Source: Myanmar Now
The military council extended the state of emergency for another 90 days in 63 townships where it does not have full control.
Source: DVB
The Burma Research Institute presented a report at the U.S. Senate detailing crimes committed by the military against Christians in Myanmar from the 2021 coup through December 2025.
Source: DVB
January 30
Japan’s Foreign Minister expressed concern and regret that the military junta proceeded with elections despite international calls for the release of all detainees, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and for inclusive dialogue.
Source: DVB
